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Did you know that this time of year, in February, is one of the safest in terms of UV-related conditions? That's right, UV lights can cause a variety of human health effects including skin cancers. Today we will talk about the connection between climate change, the side effects of increased UV light, and how to prevent too much UV light exposure.
Introduction to Ozone
You may be wondering why has UV light exposure even become a sudden problem? It has all to do with the ozone, a highly reactive toxic light blue gas composed of 3 oxygen atoms, that exists as both a natural and man-made product. There are two main types of ozone:
Stratospheric Ozone | Tropospheric (Ground-Level) Ozone |
formed naturally as a result of the interaction of solar UV light with molecular oxygen in the atmosphere | formed as a result of two photochemical reactions of nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compounds* |
runs between 6 and 30 miles above the Earth's surface | surrounds us and are the particles we breathe |
reduces the amount of harmful UV rays emitted by the sun that reach the earth | reactions that occur as a result of the presence of heat from the sun, causing an increase in ozone, particularly during the summer months |
*volatile organic compounds - compounds with a high vapor pressure but little water solubility
Ozone Disparities to Climate Change
The majority of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in tropospheric ozone levels are man-made. Peak ozone levels are typically found in the afternoon, when the heat from the sun is at its warmest in the areas where ozone is first generated. On windy days, however, VOC and NOx sources can be carried to remote areas that may experience peak ozone levels at any time of day. When toxic ambient or ground-level ozone spreads in the ground, it causes ozone pollution, which is harmful to human health.
These man-made compounds can also be released into the atmosphere, depleting stratospheric ozone significantly. Halogen is the primary element in this compound that causes it to be an ozone-depleting substance (ODS). Ozone-depleting substances can be found in a wide range of human products, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons (which I won't even attempt to pronounce), halons, and methyl bromides. They were also used in air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol cans, and even asthma inhalers in the past. These man-made compounds cause massive ozone hole, such as the one discovered above Antarctica in 1980. These holes allow a large amount of UV light to enter the Earth's atmosphere, causing a variety of health problems.
Human Health Effects of High Ambient Ozone / Ozone Depletion
As briefly described above, stratospheric ozone absorbs UV rays, lowering the risk of UV-related conditions in humans, whereas tropospheric ozone has a negative impact on humans, particularly when inhaled, because it initiates a chemical reaction with molecules in your respiratory tract. As a result, when tropospheric ozone rises and stratospheric ozone decreases, many health problems emerge in the human population.
Stratospheric Ozone Related Health Concerns
When stratospheric ozone depletes there are three types of UV rays that reach the earth UVA, UVB, and UVC.
UVA - have the least energy of all UV rays and thus cause the least damage, such as long-term skin damage, wrinkles, and may play a role in some skin cancers
UVB - have slightly more energy than UVA rays and can directly cause DNA damage in skin cells, causing sunburns and most skin cancers
UVC - have the most energy, but because they only reach the ozone layer and not further, they aren't known to cause many types of skin cancer; however, UVC rays can be produced by man-made sources such as UV sanitizing bulbs (to kill bacteria), mercury lamps, arc-welding torches, and others
UV rays not only cause sunburns, wrinkling, and cancers but they also are associated with other health concerns. Here are a few:
Premature aging of the skin/Signs of sun damage
Wrinkles - lines, creases, crevices, furrows that form in the skin
Leathery skin (lichenification) - when the skin becomes thick and leathery
Liver spots - flat tan, brown, or black spots on the skin
Actinic keratosis - rough, scaly patches on the skin caused by too much sun exposure
Solar elastosis - the degenerative condition of elastic tissue in the layers of the skin
Eye problems
Cornea can become inflamed or burned
Cataract formation is the clouding of the eye caused by abnormal tissue growth.
Weakened Immune System
Infections are more difficult to combat in the body.
Herpes reactivation is common after excessive sun exposure or other sources of UV light.
Vaccines lose effectiveness with more exposure
Even with all these other health effects with UV rays the most dangerous and feared health condition is skin cancer which is commonly due to prolonged UV light exposure whether it is man-made or natural. There are four different types of skin cancers:
Basal Cell Carcinoma:
Most common type of cancer with more than 4 million diagnosed in the US each year
Forms in the basal cells at the top layer of the skin
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Forms most commonly in sun-exposed areas of the body, but it can also form in areas that are not exposed to the sun
Forms in the squamous cells also near the surface of the skin
A treatable type of skin cancer that can become dangerous if it spreads
Merkel Cell Cancer
Rare and destructive skin cancer
Appears as a shiny red, pink, or blue lump which grows quickly on the surface of the skin
This cancer is serious but can be treated successfully with early detection
Melanoma
Relatively common cancer in the melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) also on the surface of the skin
Melanoma appears as an irregularly shaped and discolored mole on the body that grows
Can occur in sun-exposed or non sun-exposed cells in the body
Like other cancers it is serious but it can be treated with early detection
Tropospheric Ozone Related Health Conditions
Tropospheric ozone has a negative impact on human health, primarily on respiratory conditions. Tropospheric ozone has an effect on cloud formation, precipitation levels, air circulation in the atmosphere, and evaporation. As a result, areas with high ozone levels contribute to high levels of smog, which can aggravate or trigger a variety of respiratory conditions, including:
Bronchitis - inflammation of bronchial tubes in the lung
Emphysema - Air sacs in the lungs are damaged
Asthma - airways narrow and become clogged with mucus, making it difficult to breathe
Lung Tissue Damage - the lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred unless permanently unless treated in advance
Tropospheric ozone is known for one million deaths each year especially impacting children and elderly with lung or cardiovascular diseases.
5 Solutions To Ozone Depletion / High Ambient Ozone
Reduce your use of electric cars and vehicles in favor of bicycles, walking, or even carpooling
Use cleaning products that do not contain toxic substances that are harmful to the environment and to us
Refrigerators, air conditioners, and other products should be serviced regularly to ensure that they are not filtering in and out toxic air
In areas with high ambient ozone, protect yourself from the sun by wearing sunglasses, sunscreen, hats, and even masks
Inform others about the depletion of stratospheric ozone and the rise in high ambient tropospheric ozone levels
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